Bangkok's street eats face extinction

That sound you're hearing is the cries of travelling foodies from all over the world. Word is out that Bangkok's renowned street food scene is about to come to a bitter end.

The city, which was named 2016's number one tourist destination, is famous for its streets stuffed with food carts. For less than the cost of a sandwich in Sydney, you could easily fill both yourself and your travel partner's bellies with delicious noodles or soup from a local vendor.

But, sadly, that could all come to an end as Bangkok city officials reportedly consider a crack-down on stalls on main roads for "order and hygiene reasons".

If it happens, vendors will have to move out from the bustling city centre, deterring tourists who flock to the area to sample the culinary delights and hindering the poorest of Bangkok's citizens from eating in town.

In the last few months, officials from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) have reportedly been rounding up food vendors and attempting to move them to certain areas in the city. Now they're taking thigs a step further, moved vendors out of the city entirely.

According to the BBC, nearly 15,000 vendors have already been moved from 39 areas, including Siam and Pratunam.

Wanlop Suwandee, chief advisor to Bangkok's governor, told The Nation newspaper that the move was to make the pavements easier for pedestrians.

"The street vendors have seized the pavement space for too long and we already provide them with space to sell food and other products legally in the market," said Suwandee.

It's been met with plenty of criticism – some argue that by "sanitising" the city, the culture is effectively being removed, which is what tourists come to experience.

Currently, there are more than 20,000 street food vendors who call the city home. Critics say they have not been offered satisfactory alternatives, and this could result in many going out of business.

The decision comes in a run of controversial moves from Thailand's ruling military government. In recent years, their attempts to clean up public areas has included banning umbrellas and sunbeds from beaches in Phuket. This ruling was eventually relaxed, with such paraphernalia allowed on one beach, Patong.